Skeptical City Council panel OKs truancy consultant

8:40 PM,
Nov. 8, 2012

Written by

Brian Sharp
Staff writer

An effort to curb truancy in city schools was met with skepticism Thursday by City Council members frustrated with the district's underlying inability to accurately track student absenteeism.

"They have an issue with not even knowing who is enrolled in their schools," said City Councilman Adam McFadden, whose committee was considering whether to provide $15,000 in city money for a consultant.

The district brought in the consultant this summer to help implement a program focused on grades 1-3. This is the same consultant, Karl Bertrand, who, back in August, estimated that as many as half ...